Tower of Paradise

I felt my post-traumatic stress disorder beginning to manifest again, with painful memories threatening to drown me. I forced myself to shake my head, refusing to think more about my family and the past I couldn't change. I turned around, and my gaze focused on the giant rock that served as our improvised shelter.

Arceus lay on the ground, breathing heavily as he rested against the large rock. It wasn't just because he had continued moving without stopping during the battle. Because he had been tensing his muscles in a situation where he could die, his stamina had drained even faster than normal. Waves of pain that he had previously decided to ignore finally began to reach his battered body. I heard him groan, clearly hurt all over.

Caria was also resting against the rock, hugging her legs pulled against her chest in a protective gesture. The horrible wound on her ankle was visible to the naked eye, the torn and reddened skin exposing the damage she had suffered.

For my part, I remained firm. Although I was somewhat out of breath after the confrontation, I didn't feel as tired as my companions and had no significant wounds that limited my movements.

I guess I'll be the night watchman, I thought to myself. I doubted either of them could stay awake in their current state. After experiencing such a terrible battle, I still didn't dare to fully trust the masked man in front of me.

—Are you hurt?

Without thinking too much, I approached Arceus, who raised his head when he noticed my presence.

I examined his body a bit. A long scar was visible on his shoulder, the flesh exposed and reddish. The smell of blood and sweat mixed between breaths. Unconsciously, I frowned. Although I wasn't used to it, when recalling the battle of that moment, I didn't feel too much rejection in my heart.

—Don't worry, it's nothing. —He replied, trying to downplay his injury.

—Did you stop the bleeding?

—It will heal on its own. —He stated with too much confidence. It seemed this wasn't the first time he had ended up in this state.

The wound was neither small nor large, but it certainly required attention. It wasn't as serious compared to the one Caria had received while fighting the zombies, but it wasn't one to ignore either. A wound of that degree would probably heal in a day with proper care. Of course, there would be individual differences in recovery speed.

This time, fortunately, we had ended up with only minor injuries, but if we weren't careful, they could result in major complications.

My role and Arceus's were enough to protect Caria in her vulnerable state. If both of us guarded the stone and I could act freely in case of another attack, that would be the most favorable situation.

But suddenly, seeing the exhaustion on Arceus's face, I thought that even that might be difficult to achieve.

—Well, for now, simply rest a bit. —I advised him, trying to sound kinder than I was accustomed to.

I looked up at the sky, assessing the time we had left of natural light, and cleared my throat.

—We should be fine now. We still have time before the sun sets completely.

After those words, I dedicated myself to preparing a campfire. Not knowing what to do, Arceus remained motionless, allowing his tired and bruised body to rest while I worked.

Time passed with relative calm as I gathered dry firewood and lit the fire with precise and efficient movements, the fruit of years of training. When I finished, the flames danced cheerfully, providing light and heat in the growing darkness.

—I have fresh meat in my backpack. Do you have water? —He asked, reminding me that we needed to hydrate after the combat.

After overcoming the first attack, Arceus and I had received a backpack full of different supplies. It seemed they could last a week, just enough until the test ended.

—Yes! —I had received a backpack full of water bottles, a resource as valuable as gold in our situation.

I extended my arm and a second later, a beautiful blue glass bottle with intricate designs appeared in my hand, taken from my personal inventory.

—Thank you.

Arceus took the crystal bottle and looked at it with evident delight.

I watched him bring the bottle to his lips and drink eagerly the fresh and crystalline water. His thirst was palpable, reflecting the effort he had made during combat.

Without looking up, I took his backpack and opened it carefully. Then I took out the meat he mentioned, evaluating its quality with an expert eye.

Soon, the rich and tempting aroma of meat roasting over the flames filled the air around us, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

Arceus directed his gaze toward the east, where the sky was already darkening, plunging into the first shadows of the night. Then he moved uncomfortably in his position. I noticed he was beginning to shiver, once again consumed by a cold that seemed to emanate from within him.

I turned around, removed the meat from the fire when I judged it was perfectly cooked, and then quickly extinguished the flames.

We ate in silence by the twilight. The meat was juicy, tender, and indescribably delicious, surpassing any expectation. It was better than many feasts I had tasted in the clan, where wealth and luxury were abundant but lacking in true flavor. Of course, our unbearable hunger after the battle played an important role in that perception. From time to time, I would take the crystal bottle from my backpack to offer more water, aware of the importance of keeping ourselves hydrated.

When we finally finished eating, night fell upon us with all its force. Everything around us was consumed by absolute darkness, as if the world had been wrapped in an impenetrable black blanket.

I looked toward the starry sky, so different from the one I remembered from my childhood. The constellations seemed strange, alien, reminding me how far I was from that place that had never truly been my home.

The night breeze caressed my face, refreshing after the heat of the day. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself this brief instant of peace before returning to the constant vigilance that our survival required.